Stepaside Major College in Kilgetty, Pembrokeshire, faces potential closure
A petition to avoid wasting a threatened village faculty in Pembrokeshire has been submitted. In the course of the December assembly of Pembrokeshire Council, a request for a pause earlier than making any choices on the potential closure of Stepaside faculty, Kilgetty, was rejected.
That is a part of a broader vary of proposed instructional adjustments within the southern a part of the county. At this assembly, members had been requested to authorise the training director to conduct a public session on the institution of a brand new 3-19 faculty.
Initially, this might be cut up throughout two websites however might finally be consolidated at an expanded or rebuilt Ysgol Greenhill web site in Tenby, or doubtlessly a brand new location. This proposal obtained help. Learn the most important tales in Wales first by signing as much as our each day e-newsletter right here.
As a part of these suggestions, it was additionally steered that Tenby Church in Wales Voluntary Managed College and Ysgol Greenhill must be discontinued.
One other advice within the collection was to ascertain a brand new 3-11 major faculty on the Saundersfoot College web site, resulting in the discontinuation of each Saundersfoot College and Stepaside faculty.
A report introduced to members highlighted that each one faculties concerned within the proposals had many surplus locations, with Stepaside having over 50% surplus capability.
Whereas the proposals for the Tenby space had been supported, albeit with amendments, native member councillor Alistair Cameron known as for a delay on the second a part of the suggestions regarding Stepaside.
He obtained help from fellow councillor Alec Cormack, who argued the college had solely been formally notified of the plans simply days earlier, stating it was “solely pure justice to provide the college communities the prospect of a good listening to”.
Councillor Cameron’s movement for postponement was rejected by 37 votes to 12, while the preliminary proposal subsequently handed by 42 votes to seven, with public consultations scheduled for the next yr.
Following this choice, an internet petition on the council’s web site, launched by Angela Robinson, urges Pembrokeshire Council “to Save Stepaside College and work with native communities to take a look at various options”.
The petition states: “Stepaside College in Kilgetty is the center of our group. It represents a high-performing native training asset that delivers vital public worth.
“Any proposal to shut it have to be assessed not solely when it comes to short-term monetary pressures, however towards wider statutory duties, long-term social influence, and the strategic use of public funds that invests in our youngsters’s greatest curiosity.”
The excellent petition continues: “The rationale for closure seems primarily monetary, but any credible public spending choice have to be based mostly on a holistic evaluation of prices, advantages, dangers, and outcomes.
“This contains impacts on carers, kids with further studying wants, households from world majority backgrounds, and people reliant on native help networks.
“Smaller group faculties typically ship higher early years outcomes and improved wellbeing-factors carefully aligned with authorities coverage priorities and related to diminished long-term public expenditure.
“Moreover, the monetary and carbon prices related to reviewing, closing, and rebuilding provision are vital. Redirecting such expenditure in the direction of sustaining and enhancing an already glorious faculty would symbolize a extra environment friendly and sustainable use of public funds.
“The extra monetary burden on households and influence on high quality time collectively can’t be undermined with transferring outdoors of our area people.”
The on-line petition is open from December 17 to February 17.
In the course of the December assembly, appeals to protect Manorbier College and Ysgol Clydau, which additionally face potential closure, had been introduced, with members acknowledging these petitions.
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